The Massachusetts Hospital Association and Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives are opposing a bill, passed last week by the state House, requiring the state to determine how many patients would be assigned to each registered nurse. In a joint statement, the MHA and the MONE said, “We believe that the entire caregiving team must be included in the development of flexible staffing guidelines. The union [the Massachusetts Nurses Association], by contrast, believes government should set RN-only ratios.” As the bill passes to the Senate, MHA and MONE reiterated their message to the state’s senators: “Let government hold hospitals accountable for their performance and patient care. Don’t let government micromanage how that care is delivered.” Prior to the vote, MHA and MONE had sent a letter signed by every hospital CEO in the Commonwealth opposing the legislation.
However, Beth Piknick, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, said, “We are very pleased with this vote for patient safety.” The nurses group cites Massachusetts physician and patient surveys attributing compromised care to nurses having to take care of too many patients. “The scientific research clearly shows that when nurses have fewer patients, patients get better care, medical errors are reduced, and millions of dollars are saved,” said the MNA. Only California has a law regulating nurse staffing limits in hospitals, but 14 other states currently have similar legislation pending, according to the MNA.
